Complex Integration

In the case of function of real variable, the path of integration of

b

 f ( x)dx is along the real axis from x=a to x=b.

a

y=f(x)

a b
x

Fig1

In the case of function of complex variable, the path of integration

b

of
 f ( z )dz can be along any curve from z=a to z=b
a

b
y
C
a

Fig2

It is generally written as
 f ( z )dz called contour integral, like line
C

integral
 F.dr of vector calculus.
C

Contour :
In complex variable curve is termed as contour.
Example z a x2+y2=a2 circle
Example z  ae i
z=x+iy= acos  +iasin  x= acos  , y=asin 

In general parametric equation z=z(t) (a  t  b) represents a

contour C,
y

Fig3

Contour integrals:
It is defined as the integral of f(z) which is a function of complex
variable z along a given contour C extending from the point z=z1
to a point z=z2 in the complex plane.
z2
y
C
z1

x
Fig4

 f ( z )dz
z2

C  f ( z )dz
It is written as or z1 .

2
It is therefore a line integral and its value depends, in general, the
contour C as well as on the function f.

Example 4.1. Integrate f(z)=x2+ixy from A(1,1) to B(2,8) along

(i) the straight line AB
(ii) the curve C: x=t, y=t3 from t=1 to 2
 f ( z )dz   ( x  ixy )(dx  idy )   ( x 2  ixy )dx  i ( x 2  ixy )dy
2

C C C

8 1
y 8 ( x  2)
(i) Equation of AB is 2 1 or, y=7x-6

y
(2,8)

(1,1)
x

Fig5
( 2 ,8 )

 f ( z )dz   ( x  ixy )(dx  idy )

2

C (1,1)
2

=
(x 2
 ix(7 x  6))(dx  i 7dx)
1 =
2

 (1  i7) x  6ix))(1  i 7)dx

2

1
2
 x3 x2 
(1  i 7) (1  i 7)  6i 
=  3 2 1

3
  8 1  2 2 1 
(1  i 7) (1  i 7)    6i  
=   3 3   2 2 
1
(71i  147)
=3

 f ( z )dz  g ( y)dy 1 (71i  147)

8

=3
C
Or, =1

( 2 ,8 ) 2

 f ( z )dz   ( x
2
 ixy )(dx  idy )   (t 2  it 4 )(dt  i3t 2 dt )
(ii) C (1,1) 1
2 2 2
  (t  it )(1  i3t )dt   (t  it  3it  3t )dt   (t 2  4it 4  3t 6 )dt
2 4 2 2 4 4 6

1 1 1
124i 1094

= 5 21

z2
Example 4.2 Evaluate
 f ( z )dz where f(z)= and C is
C z
i
(a)the semicircle z  2e (0     )
(b)the semicircle z  2ei (    2 )
(c)the circle z  2e i (0    2 )

(a)
  
z2 2e i   2  2e i 
 f ( z )dz   dz   
i i
i
i 2 e d  i ( 2e  2) d  i   2   4  2 i
C C
z 0 2e 0  i 0

x
Fig6

4
(b)
2 2 2
z2 2e i  2  2e i  
 f ( z )dz    2e i 
i i
dz  i 2e d  i ( 2e  2 ) d   i   2   4  2 i
C C
z  i 

Fig7

(c)
2 2 2
z2 2e i   2  2e i  
 f ( z )dz   0 2e i 0
i i
dz  i 2e d   i ( 2e  2 ) d  i   2   4 i
C C
z  i 0

Fig8

5
C09============================================
===============================================
===============================================

Example 4.3 Evaluate

 f ( z )dz
where f(z)= C
z2 1
if the contour C is
the circle z 1  1 .

x
-1

Fig9

on the circle z  1  1 , z  1  e i dz= ie

i
d (use parametric form)
2 2 2
 e i 3 2e i 2 
 f ( z )dz   ( z  1)dz   (e  2e  1  1)ie d  i  (e
i 2 i i i 3 i 2
2
 2e ) d  i    0
C C 0 0  3i 2i  0

z
 dz
Example 4.4 Evaluate z  5 if the contour C is the circle
C

z 1  2 y

C
2
x
1

Fig10

6
Let z  1  2e i  (parametric form)
z
 z  5 dz
C
2
2e i  1
0 2e i  4 i 2e d
i

=
2
4e 2 i   2 e i 
i d
0
2ei  4
2
4e 2i  16  2e i  16
i d
= 0 2e i  4
2
 2ei  16 
i   2e i   4  i  d
= 0  2 e  4 
2
 2e  4  20 
i
i  2e i  4  d
0  2e i  4 
2
 20 
i  2e i  4  1  i d
= 0 2e  4 
2
 20 
i  2e i  5  i d
= 0 2e  4 
2 2
 2e i  10
i  5   i  i d
= i 0 0 e 2
10i  2
e  i
10i   i
d
= 0
1  2 e
10i  2 2e  i
5i   i
d
= 0 1  2e

= 
10i  5i ln(1  2e  i ) 2  0

= 
10i  5i ln e  i (ei  2) 2
0 
= 
10i  5i ln e  i  ln(ei  2) 2
0 
= 10i  5i{ln e
 i 2 i 2
 ln(e  2)  ln e  i 0  ln(ei 0  2)}
= 10i  5i{2  ln(1)  ln 1  ln(1)} =0

7
 z5

Example 4.5 Find the value of z C
2
dz
 2 z  15 if the contour C is the
circle z 1  1 .

x
-1

Fig11

on the circle z  1  1 , z  1  e i dz= ie

i
d (use parametric form)

z5
C
z  2 z  15
2
dz

z 1 4

= C z  2 z  1  16
2
dz

2
e i  4 i
 2i
= 0 e  16
ie d

2
e i (e i  4)
 i  i d
0
(e  4)(e i  4)
2
1
i e i  d
i
= 0
e 4

 ln(e i  4) 0 
2
e i 2  1
=(ln(-3)-ln(-3))
=ln1
=0

8
 z
 dz
Example 4.6 Find the value of z  1 if the contour C is the
C

circle z 1  3
y

x
1

Fig12
i
on the circle z  1  3 , z  1  3e dz  i3ei d


z 2
3ei  1 i
2
3e i  i 0 2i
2
 
 i
dz

i
i 3e d  i (3e  1)d
z 1
C = 0 3e = 0 = =
z

Example 4.7 Find the value of C z  1 if the contour
dz
C is the
circle z 1  2
y

C
2
x
1

Fig13

9
on the circle z  1  2 , z  1  2e i dz  i 2ei d


z 2
2e i  1 i
2

2e i  i 
2 2i
dz
 i 
i
i 2 e d  i ( 2e  1)d  0
z 1
C = 0 2e = 0 = =

To prove C
 f ( z )dz  0
when f(z) is analytic in C
Cauchy’s Integral Theorem/Cauchy’s theorem
If a function f(z) is analytic and its derivative f (z ) is continuous
at all points inside and on a simple closed curve C then C
 f ( z )dz  0
Proof:
Let the region enclosed by the curve C be R and f(z)=u+iv, z=x+iy
dz=dx+idy

C
R

Fig14

 f ( z )dz
C

 (u  iv)(dx  idy)
=C
 (udx  vdy)  i  (vdx  udy)
=C C

 v u   u v 
     dxdy  i    dxdy
R 
x y  R  x y  by Green’s theorem

10
  u u   v v 
    dxdy  i    dxdy
R 
y y  R  y y 
=0+i0
=0
 f ( z )dz  0
C

Green’s theorem: If R is a closed region in the xy plane bounded

by simple closed curve C and M, N are continuous functions of x
and y having continuous derivative in R then
   
 N M 
dxdy
C
Mdx+Ndy=  x R y 
where C is traversed in the positive (counter-clockwise) direction.

Alternative method for Example 4.3, 4.4, 4.5 by using Cauchy

integral theorem

Example 4.8a Evaluate

 f ( z )dz where f(z)=
C
z2 1
if the contour C is
the circle z 1  1 .
y

x
-1

Fig15
 ( z  1)dz  0
2

f(z) is analytic within C so by Cauchy integral theorem C

z
 dz
Example 4.8b Evaluate z  5 if the contour C is the circle
C

z 1  2
y

11
 2
x
1

Fig16
f(z) is analytic within C, the point of singularity z=5 lies outside
z 1  2 z
the contour

, so by Cauchy integral theorem z  5
dz  0
C

z5

Example 4.9 Find the value of z C
2
dz
 2 z  15 if the contour C is the
circle z 1  1 .

z 2  2 z  15  0  2  4  60
z  1  4i
Poles of f(z) are given by 2 .
f(z) is analytic within C, the poles lies outside the contour z  1  1 ,
z5

so by Cauchy integral theorem z C
2
 2 z  15
dz  0

x
-1

Fig17

 f ( z )dz   f ( z )dz
To prove C 1 C2

12
Extension of Cauchy’s integral theorem to multiple connected
region

Theorem-If f(z) is analytic in a region S bounded by two simple

closed curve C1 and C2 and also on the curves C1 and C2 , then
 f ( z )dz   f ( z )dz
C1 where C1 and C2 are both traversed in the positive
C2

sense i.e. in the anti-clockwise sense

Proof: Construct the cross cut AB as shown in the figure. Now as
f(z) is analytic in the given region so from Cauchy’s theorem we
have
 f ( z )dz  0
ABCDEBAFGHA

C
C1
y F
C2
A B
D G
H
E
x

Fig18

 f ( z )dz   f ( z )dz   f ( z )dz   f ( z )dz  0

AB BCDEB BA AFGHA

  f ( z )dz   f ( z )dz   f ( z )dz   f ( z )dz  0

BA BCDEB BA AFGHA

BCDEB
 f ( z )dz   f ( z )dz  0
AFGHA


BEDCB
 f ( z )dz   f ( z )dz  0
AFGHA

  f ( z )dz   f ( z )dz  0
C2 C1

 f ( z )dz   f ( z )dz
C1 C2

13
To find a formula of integration

Cauchy’s Integral Formula

If a function f(z) is analytic within and on a closed curve C and if
1 f ( z)
a is any point within C then
f (a)  
2i C z  a
dz

Proof:
f ( z)
The function z  a is
analytic at all points inside and on C, except at
the points z=a. With the point a as the centre and radius r draw a
small circle C1 lying inside the curve C

y C
r C1
a

Fig19

f ( z) f ( z)
 z  a dz   z  a dz
Then we have C C 1

For any point on C1 we have z  a  re i dz  ire i d

2 2
f ( z) f (a  re i ) i
C z  a 0 re i 0 f (a  re )d
i
dz  ire d   i
In the limiting form as the
circle C1 shrinks to the point a i.e. r  0 the integral reduces to
f ( z)  2  2
 dz  Lt i  f (a  re )d   i  f (a )d  2if (a )
i

C
za r 0
 0  0

14
 1 f ( z)
f (a)  
2i C z  a
dz

f ( z)
 z  a dz  2if (a)
C

This is an important formula of integration .

nth derivative of an analytic function:

1 f ( z)
The Cauchy integral formula is
f (a)  
2i C z  a
dz

Differentiating it w.r.t. a we get

1  f ( z)
2i a C z  a
f (a )  dz

1  1
f (a )  
2i C
f ( z)
a z  a
dz

1 f ( z)
f (a )  
2i C ( z  a ) 2
dz

2! f ( z)
Similarly
f (a )  
2i C ( z  a ) 3
dz

3! f ( z)
f (a )  
2i C ( z  a ) 4
dz

n! f ( z)
f n (a)  
2i C ( z  a ) n 1
dz

f ( z) 2i n
 ( z  a)
C
n 1
dz 
n!
f (a)

This is also an important formula of integration of function having

power denominator.

Alternative method for Example 4.6, 4.7 by using Cauchy

integral formula

z
 dz
Example 4.11 Find the value of z  1 if the contour C is the C

circle z 1  3
y
15
 C

x
1

Fig20

z=1 lies inside the circle

f ( z)
Therefore we can use Cauchy integral formula
 z  a
dz  2if (a )
C

Here a=1 f(z)=z f(1)=1

z
 z  1 dz  2if (1)  2i1  2i
C

z
 dz
Example 4.10 Find the value of z  1 if the contour C is the
C

circle z 1  2

C
2
x
1

Fig 21

z=1 lies inside the circle

16
 f ( z)

Therefore we can use Cauchy integral formula z  a
dz  2if (a )
C

Here a=1 f(z)=z f(1)=1

z
 z  1 dz  2if (1)  2i1  2i
C

z 1

Example 4.12 Evaluate ( z  1) C
2
( z  2)
dz
over the circular path
z i 2
Poles are z=-1, -1, 2 . of these z=-1 lies inside the circle.

y
C

i
x

Fig22

z 1 z 1 2if (1) 2i

 ( z  1) 2
( z  2)
dz
z  2 dz

9
C

=C ( z  1) 2
= =
z 1
f ( z) 
z2
z 1  1 1 
f ( z )    
z  2  z 1 z  2 
1
f (1)  
9
e az z  e i
Example 4.13 Evaluate
 z dz
C where C is the unit circle
then show that


e
a cos
cos(a sin  )d  
0

17
z=0 lies inside the circle
f ( z)
Therefore we can use Cauchy integral formula
 z  a
dz  2if (a )
C

Here a=0 f(z)= e az

f(0)=1

e az
 z dz  2if (0)  2 i
C
2
e a (cos   i sin  ) i z  e i dz  e i d
0 e i ie d  2 i
2
i  e a cos  (cos(a sin  )  i sin(a sin  ))d  2 i
0

Equating imaginary part



e
a cos 
cos(a sin  )d  
0

Taylor’s theorem
If a function f(z) is analytic at all points inside a circle C with its
centre at the point a radius R then at each point z inside C

f (a) f ( n ) (a)
f ( z )  f (a)  f (a)( z  a)  ( z  a) 2  ............... ( z  a) n
2! n!

Ex.4.14 Find the Taylor series expansion of the function

1
f ( z) 
( z  1)( z  3) about the point z=4.

Taylor’s theorem is
f (a )
f ( z )  f (a )  f (a )( z  a )  ( z  a ) 2  ..............
2!
a=4
f (4) f (4)
f ( z )  f (4)  f (4)( z  4)  ( z  4) 2  ( z  4) 3  ...............
2! 3!

1 1 1 1 
f ( z)     
( z  1)( z  3) 2  z  3 z  1 

18
 1 1 1
f ( z)  f ( 4)  
( z  1)( z  3) (4  1)(4  3) 3
1 1 1 
f ( z)    
2  z  3 z  1
1 1 1  1 1 1  4
f ( z )      f (4)       
2  ( z  3) 2
( z  1) 2  2  (4  3) 2
(4  1) 2  9
1 2 2  1 2 2  26
f ( z )     f  ( 4 )    
2  ( z  3) 3 ( z  1) 3  2  (4  3) 3 (4  1) 3  27
80
f (4)  
27
1 4 13 40
f ( z )   ( z  4)  ( z  4) 2  ( z  4) 3  ..........
3 9 27 81

Ex4.15 Find the first three terms of the Taylor series expansion of
1
f ( z) 
z 4
2
about z=-i.

Taylor’s theorem is
f (a )
f ( z )  f (a )  f (a )( z  a )  ( z  a ) 2  ..............
2!
a=-i
f (i )
f ( z )  f (i )  f (i )( z  i )  ( z  i ) 2  ...............
2!
1 1
f ( z)  f (i ) 
z 42
3
 2z 2i
f ( z )   2 f (i ) 
( z  4) 2 9
( z 2  4) 2 2  2 z.2( z 2  4)2 z ( z 2  4)2  8 z 2 14
f ( z )    f (i )  
( z 2  4) 4 ( z 2  4) 3 27

1 2i 14 ( z  i ) 2
f ( z)   ( z  i)    ...............
3 9 27 2!

Laurent’s theorem
If we are required to expand f(z) about a point where f(z) is not
analytic, then it is expanded by Laurent series not by Taylor series.

19
Statement: If f(z) is analytic on C1 and C2 and annular region R
bounded by two concentric circles C1 and C2 of radii r1 and r2
( r2 <r1) and with centre at a, then for all z in R

b1 b2 (r2  z  a  r1 )
f ( z )  a 0  a1 ( z  a )  a 2 ( z  a ) 2  ........    ......
z  a ( z  a) 2

figure

1 f ( z)
an  
2i C ( z  a ) n 1
dz (n  0, 1, 2,............)

1 f ( z)
bn  
2i C ( z  a)  n 1
dz (n  1, 2,............)

1 b1
Residue: The coefficient of i. e. in Laurent’s expansion of
za
f(z) about an isolated singular point z=a is called the residue of f(z)
at z=a
1
2i C
b1  f ( z )dz

 f ( z )dz  2 ib This is important formula of integration

C
1

ez z 2
Example 4.16 Evaluate
 C
dz
z  1 where C is , by using
z
e
expansion of z  1 in powers of z-1.

ez ee z 1 e ( z  1) 2 ( z  1) 3 e z 1 ( z  1) 2
  (1  ( z  1)    .....  ee e  ......
z 1 z 1 z 1 2! 3! z 1 2! 3!
b1  e

ez

C
z 1
dz  2 ib1  2 ei

20
Alternative method by Cauchy integral formula
ez z 2
Example 4.17 Evaluate
 C
dz
z  1 where C is , by using Cauchy
integral formula

z=1 lies inside the circle z 2

f ( z)

Therefore we can use Cauchy integral formula z  a
dz  2if (a )
C

Here a=1 f(z)= e f(1)=e z

ez

C
z 1
dz  2if (1)  2i e  2ie

Residue at pole of order m

If f(z) has a pole of order m at z=a then show that the residue at
z=a is
1 d m 1
Lt [( z  a ) m f ( z )]
z  a ( m  1)! dz m 1

Since f(z) has a pole of order m at z=a therefore f(z) is expressible

as (z-a)mf(z)=  (z )
where  (z ) is analytic and  (a)  0
 ( z)
f ( z) 
( z  a) m
Residue of f(z) at z=a is b1 where
1
2i C
b1  f ( z )dz

1  ( z)
 
2i C ( z  a ) m
dz

1 (m  1)!  ( z)

= (m  1)! 2i C ( z  a)
m 11
dz

1
 m1 (a )
= (m  1)!
1 d m 1
 Lt [( z  a) m f ( z )]
z  a ( m  1)! dz m 1

Cauchy’s Residue theorem

21
If f(z) is analytic in a closed curve C, except at a finite number of
poles within C then
 f ( z )dz  2 i (Sum of the residues at the poles within
C
C)

 f ( z )dz  2 i ( R  R
C
1 2  R3  ...............Rn )

z 2  2z
f ( z) 
Example 4.18 Find the residue of ( z  1) 2 ( z 2  4) at all poles
Poles of f(z) are given by ( z  1) 2 ( z 2  4)  0
or, ( z  1) ( z  2i )( z  2i )  0
2
z=-1, -1, 2i, -2i
f(z) has a double pole at z=-1
We know that residue at z=a is
1 d m1
R  Lt 
[( z  a) m f ( z )]
z a ( m  1)! dz m 1

Residue at z=-1 is
1 d  z 2  2z  zLt ( z 2  4)(2 z  2)  ( z 2  2 z )(2 z ) 14
R1  Lt ( z  1) 2
 1 
z 1 1! dz
 ( z  1) ( z  4)  =
2 2
( z  1) ( z  4)
2 2 2
25
Residue at z=2i is
 z 2  2z   z 2  2z  7i
R2  Lt ( z  2i )  Lt ( z  2i ) 
z 2 i
 ( z  1) 2 ( z 2  4)  = z 2i  ( z  1) 2 ( z  2i )( z  2i )  = 25
Residue at z=-2i is
 z 2  2z   z 2  2z  7i
R2  Lt ( z  2i )  Lt ( z  2i ) 
z 2 i
 ( z  1) 2 ( z 2  4)  = z 2i  ( z  1) 2 ( z  2i )( z  2i )  = 25

z 2  2z
f ( z) 
Example 4.19 Find the residue of ( z  1) 2 ( z 2  4) at z=-1
We know that Residue at z=a is
1 d m1
R  Lt [( z  a) m f ( z )]
z a ( m  1)! dz m 1

Residue at z=-1 is
1 d  z 2  2z  zLt ( z 2  4)(2 z  2)  ( z 2  2 z )(2 z ) 14
R1  Lt ( z  1)
2
 1 
z 1 1! dz
 ( z  1) ( z  4)  =
2 2
( z  1) ( z  4)
2 2 2
25

z 2  2z z 3
Example 4.20 Evaluate
 ( z  1) 2 ( z 2  4) dz
C where C is the circle

22
 y

C
x

Fig23

Poles of f(z) are given by ( z  1) 2 ( z 2  4)  0

or, ( z  1) ( z  2i )( z  2i )  0
2
z=-1, -1, 2i, -2i
f(z) has a double pole at z=-1
All poles lie inside the circle
We know that residue at z=a is
1 d m1
R  Lt [( z  a) m f ( z )]
z a ( m  1)! dz m 1

Residue at z=-1 is
1 d  z 2  2z  zLt ( z 2  4)(2 z  2)  ( z 2  2 z )(2 z ) 14
R1  Lt ( z  1) 2
 1 
z 1 1! dz
 ( z  1) ( z  4)  =
2 2
( z  1) ( z  4)
2 2 2
25
Residue at z=2i is
 z 2  2z   z 2  2z  7i
R2  Lt ( z  2i )  Lt ( z  2i ) 
z 2 i
 ( z  1) 2 ( z 2  4)  = z 2i  ( z  1) 2 ( z  2i )( z  2i )  = 25
Residue at z=-2i is
 z 2  2z   z 2  2z  7i
R2  Lt ( z  2i )  Lt ( z  2i ) 
z 2 i
 ( z  1) ( z  4)  = z 2i 
2 2
( z  1) ( z  2i )( z  2i )  = 25
2

z 2  2z 2 i ( R1  R2  R3 )  14 7  i 7  i 
C ( z  1) ( z  4) =
2 2
dz 2  i 
 25

25
 
25  =0
=

23
 z 2  2z z  1.5
Example 4.21 Evaluate
 ( z  1) 2 ( z 2  4) dz
C where C is the circle

C
x

Fig24

Poles of f(z) are given by ( z  1) 2 ( z 2  4)  0

or, ( z  1) ( z  2i )( z  2i )  0
2
z=-1, -1, 2i, -2i
f(z) has a double pole at z=-1
z=-1 lies inside the circle z  1.5 other two poles lie outside the
circle.
We know that residue at z=a is
1 d m1
R  Lt [( z  a) m f ( z )]
z a ( m  1)! dz m 1

Residue at z=-1 is
1 d  z 2  2z  zLt ( z 2  4)(2 z  2)  ( z 2  2 z )(2 z ) 14
R1  Lt ( z  1) 2
 1 
z 1 1! dz
 ( z  1) ( z  4)  =
2 2
( z  1) ( z  4)
2 2 2
25
z 2  2z 2 i R1  14  28 i
C ( z  1) 2 ( z 2  4) dz = 2 i    
 25  = 25
=

Problems to be done from the book

Theory and Problems on complex variable by M. R. Spiegel
P24 problem no. 48 chapter 1 complex numbers
P26 71
P28 95, 96

24
P59 68, 72 chapter 2 functions limit and continuity
P86 50, 51, 53 chapter 3 complex differentiation CR equations
P122 5 chapter 5 Cauchy integral formula and related theorem
P133 29
P134 30-35
P137 79, 80, 81, 88
P177 4a, 6 chapter7 the residue theorem
P224 29, 30 chapter 8 conformal mapping
Quiz 3 cv1, cv2 & cv3
Quiz 4 cv3, cv4 & stat1
End

25